I chose the first option but just so I could prepare my self for Matt's departure. To be honest I think a surprise would be better, it could be done, it shouldn't be too hard to keep it secret. In my head I've a lovely idea of 11's end. He's just defeated a big bad (preferably a new one) but before they were stopped, something was set in motion that would stop the doctor from defeating them by potentially killing him. Only the Doctor was quicker than they were and stopped them before they stopped him. Then this bit is the image I've had in head for a while. Set in a dark-ish bronze/copper walled room, the Doctor and Clara make their way back to the Tardis after their victory. As he goes to open the door, he slumps over and grabs Clara's arm. Quickly, he says that (Big Bad), as he suspected, had done something to prevent their demise. He slides down to the floor with his back against the Tardis, then he does a very 'Matt' style body jerk before Clara supports him. She questions him but he does't give her a straight explanation as to whats happening. He say's something like "We had a good one, you and me eh," She asks him why he said it in the past tense. He tells her she needs to be brave and prepared for what's to come, say's something like "Something's going to happen and when it does I'm probably going to seem very different afterwards, but don't let that worry you". She buts but he shushes and gives her one last smile before he regenerates. He becomes 12 and says the usual post-regeneration stuff and Clara is just mesmerised.

A nice way to go without tears. (Not a dig at David or 10, I just don't want Matt to exit crying.)

I either want 12 to be a unknown-ish actor but I could think of many others that aren't unknown like Benedict Cumberbatch (but even if he isn't the Doctor, I'd love him to make an appearance, he could be a fantastic new villain), Richard Armitage and Lee Pace.

Just to pick you up on the first part of your post!
Was 10 around for just 4 years...four years on telly yes but in terms of his tenure...who knows?

When the Classic Who Doctors stated their ages (which wasn't very often) it seemed to imply that most of them were around for significantly longer than their time on the telly, and that most of their time was spent having off-screen adventures.

When the Tenth Doctor stated his age (which was very often) it generally seemed to match his time on the telly, which I think was a mistake on RTD's part.

When the Classic Who Doctors stated their ages (which wasn't very often) it seemed to imply that most of them were around for significantly longer than their time on the telly, and that most of their time was spent having off-screen adventures.

When the Tenth Doctor stated his age (which was very often) it generally seemed to match his time on the telly, which I think was a mistake on RTD's part.

The Tenth Doctor cried because he was only around for about four years, the equivalent of a mayflower's lifespan for a Time Lord, and he thought it just wasn't fair to have such a short incarnation.

The Eleventh Doctor's now been around for about three hundred years, so has had a good innings, and is unlikely to shed a tear when he regenerates.

I know, I'm not saying there was anything wrong with it. I just don't think it will do Matt any favours if he goes out in a sad way. Like 9/Chris's was good because he accepted him self at the end, thus saying he was fantastic. 9 went out happy, 10 went out the opposite, I'm hoping that 11 will go out nicely without it being too upsetting.

I'd like to know in advance, but not too far in advance. During the 'specials year' I was much more excited about the new Doctor than slogging through the specials themselves, which isn't really fair to the show.

It would be next to impossible, I know, but ideally I'd like to be totally surprised while watching the episode. When the next regeneration comes I would not want to know even that there was going to be a change, let alone know who the next Doctor was going to be. What a shock to the system that would be!